Bridgette Chen is the daughter of Liu Xianbin, a Chinese dissident and democracy activist since his days in the Tiananmen Democracy Movement. Liu Xianbin is a co-author of Charter 08 and one of the Charter’s 300 original signators. He was arrested in 2010 and is currently serving a 10 year prison sentence in connection with his writings on democracy. Bridgette was living with her family in China when her father was arrested but left the country after suffering police harassment at her home and at school. Below please find the text of her remarks at her junior high graduation ceremony in California, U.S. Good afternoon, everyone! I’m Bridgette, I came to Alpha Beacon a year ago. My uncle, who is a pastor, chose this school for me because he wanted me to study in a Christian school so I could learn more about God. In Alpha Beacon, all the...

On June 4, 2011 Initiatives for China will present an Open Letter to UN Secretary General Ban-ki Moon regarding the Chinese government’s serious and on-going human rights violations against its own people Open Letter to the Secretary-General of United Nations His Excellency Ban Ki-moon The United Nations 1 United Nations Plaza New York, New York 10017-3515 CC: Member States of the UN Security Council, Member States of the UN Human Rights Council, and European Parliament June 4, 2011 Dear Mr. Secretary-General: Twenty-two years ago today, Chinese Communist dictators, responding to student-led pro-democracy protests, called out tens of thousands of troops to “crush a counter-revolutionary riot.” In a spasm of unimaginable violence, heavily armed soldiers and tanks attacked peaceful protesters. They shot at unarmed Chinese in and near Tiananmen Square, resulting in the death and maiming of thousands...

September 13, 2010 – The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice has awarded a 2010 Front Line grant to the Boston-based democracy movement, Initiatives for China. The Front Line Fund was established to aid “brave individuals and groups around the world who are on the front lines of the human rights struggles that so often take place out of the public spotlight.” Through this grant, the Lantos Foundation “recognizes and supports the work of Initiatives for China for empowering Chinese citizens in their struggle for a peaceful transition to the rule of law and democracy in China” said Annette Lantos, Chair of the Lantos Foundation and wife of the late Congressman, Tom Lantos, for whom the Foundation is named. In accepting the grant, Initiatives for China president, Dr. Yang Jianli, expressed his appreciation to the Lantos Foundation: “Congressman...

Join “I am Liu Xianbin” The Chinese government’s systematic incarceration of its best and brightest citizens is inconsistent with China’s position as a leading member of the world community and a major trading partner of the United States. Continued silence in the face of this repression weakens our position as the defender of freedom and ultimately threatens our own liberties. We must consider the imprisonment of Liu Xianbin as an act against our own freedom. We encourage everyone to “adopt” Xianbin. – Tell your friends and associates that “I am Liu Xianbin”. – Sign your emails with “I am Liu Xianbin” – Make “I am Liu Xianbin” T-Shirts or buttons. – Spread the word via your social networking outlets. – Send a donation using the donate button on this website to help us keep this campaign alive. “A threat...

(More articles on I am Liu Xianbin Campaign) Washington, DC. July 5, 2010. Initiatives for China, the Boston-based movement for a peaceful transition to democracy in China, announced the I Am Liu Xianbin campaign to personalize the ongoing tragedy of imprisonment and intimidation by the Chinese government of China’s best and brightest citizens. Initiatives for China President Dr. Yang Jianli launched the campaign at a human-rights conference held July 1st at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, DC. Flanked by NED President Carl Gershman and Vice President Louisa Greve, Dr. Yang removed his suit jacket to reveal a shirt with the message “I am Liu Xianbin” handwritten in English and Chinese. “I was so upset, I wrote this on my shirt on the train down to D.C.,” said Dr. Yang. Paraphrasing the words of civil rights leader, Martin Luther...

Washington, DC. June 30, 2010. Initatives for China, The Boston-based movement for a peaceful transition to democracy in China, announces its profound outrage and sorrow at the arrest of renowned democracy advocate, Liu Xianbin A Tiananmen Square survivor and one of the original signatories to Charter 08, Xianbin is a tireless and eloquent advocate of political reform in China. He was just released from prison in 2008 after serving almost 13 years for promoting political reforms, which the Chinese government interprets as “subversion of the state.” Expressing his sorrow for this development, Initiatives for China President and fellow Tianamen survivor, Yang Jianli, said “a piece of my soul disappeared when I learned of Xianbin’s arrest. Along with Liu Xiaobo, Xianbin is one of the most revered democracy advocates inside of China.” {Liu Xiaobo is regarded as the lead author...

Liu Xianbin, a noted Chinese political activist from Sichuan Province, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 25, 2011. After a 2 ½ hour trial, the Suining Intermediate People’s Court convicted Liu of inciting subversion of state power. During the Court proceedings, a total of 21 trial audits were offered. 19 of them were appointed by the authorities, while only 2 on Liu’s behalf were allowed – one from his wife and one from his brother. Liu himself was given almost no opportunity to speak during the trial – his draft defense statement was confiscated beforehand, and he was not allowed to make a final statement. At most, he was allowed to answer yes or no questions from the trial attorneys. Background: An avid democracy advocate since his university days, Liu Xianbin is no stranger to the...